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Midwives are increasingly under pressure and having to cut home birth services, apparently because of funding cuts, a survey shows.

The Royal College of Midwives’ annual survey of heads of midwifery last week revealed 60% of respondents said their unit’s staffing was inadequate for the level of activity.

The most identified reasons for extra pressure on staff were the increasing complexity of cases – for example mothers who are older or have medical conditions – and increasing numbers of

births.

Thirty-one per cent of heads of midwifery have been asked to reduce midwife numbers in the past year and 37 per cent believe they will have to reduce them in the coming year.

The RCM said its findings showed funding problems were limiting the services offered.

Nearly four in 10 said their unit had to close at least once in the past year and 17% said there had been a reduction in service – likely to mean things like home births or out-of-hospital

units becoming unavailable.

Thirty-two per cent said there would be a reduction in services next year.

The RCM said in a statement the evidence “flies in the face of the government’s commitment to provide choice for women around childbirth”. The government has said parents should be given

choice of the type and location of birth.

One head of midwifery said: “The implications for the women requiring our care will be significant. There will be less opportunity to provide support for home births and one-to-one care in

labour in the hospital setting.”

The results were published alongside the RCM’s evidence to the NHS Pay Review which makes recommendations on national pay deals. It says it is concerned about the prospect of an extension of

this year’s pay freeze for midwives - and all NHS staff - earning more than £21,000.

The organisation estimates a shortage of 4,664 midwives in England compared to the number required to safely cover rising birth rates.

Speaking about the findings, RCM general secretary Cathy Warwick said: “Until now, maternity staffing numbers have simply failed to keep pace with the ever-rising number of births, but now

we face the prospect of maternity staff, including possibly midwives, actually losing their jobs. That worries me very much.”